The PWHL is “making a concerted effort to maintain healthy competition as four new teams enter the fold,” as the league expands for the second consecutive year, according to SPORTSNET.ca. A league statement outlined a “six-phase expansion process that is ‘designed to support roster construction for the league’s four expansion teams while maintaining competitive balance and roster continuity for the league’s existing teams.’” The PWHL is expanding to Hamilton, San Jose, Las Vegas and Detroit next season, just one year after adding two teams. PWHL EVP/Hockey Operations Jayna Hefford emphasized that a “major priority was to allow players to have a meaningful voice in the process” (SPORTSNET.ca, 5/27). THE ATHLETIC’s Hailey Salvian wrote expansion teams will have “10 players under contract by Phase 4 of its six-phase process.” The league’s existing eight teams “can lose a maximum of four players under contract for 2026-27,” but there is “no limit on how many players under expiring contracts the teams can lose from their 2025-26 rosters.” Starting June 1 at 12pm ET, all 12 PWHL teams “will be permitted to have conversations with players they’d like to negotiate with from a list of 10 submitted by each club.” However, contracts “cannot be signed until Phase 1 officially begins on June 2.” There will also be a roster freeze in effect from Phases 1-4, meaning “existing teams cannot make trades or sign contracts outside of the expansion process” (THE ATHLETIC, 5/27).
PWHL aiming to maintain competitive balance in expansion process
